Inside the Miami Marlins with MLB.com beat writer Joe FrisaroTwitter

Short takes from Sunday

JUPITER, Fla. — Ricky Nolasco will make his first Spring Training start on Sunday against the Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium. The Grapefruit League game is set to start at 1:05 p.m., and it will be televised on MLB.TV and it is the first of four games being aired by Fox Sports Florida. Before the game, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez met briefly with the beat writers to preview the day.

Nolasco is expected to throw about 55-60 pitches, or three innings. If all goes well, he remains on pace to be the No. 2 starter behind Josh Johnson.

The Marlins open on April 1 against the Mets at Sun Life Stadium. Nolasco is on pace to pitch on April 2.

Worth noting:

* Anibal Sanchez threw his bullpen session on Saturday, and all went well with his bruised right shin/calf area. Sanchez was struck by a comeback grounder on Thursday. Initially, he was supposed to test the leg on Sunday, but he threw on Saturday instead.

Sanchez has been cleared to start against the Rays on Tuesday in Port Charlotte. If for some reason he can’t make the start, Sean West is a likely fallback option. But the team fully expects Sanchez to be ready to go.

* Mike Stanton did some light running with the team on Sunday morning. He still isn’t pushing his strained right quad. The hope is Stanton can be used as a designated hitter later this week in Minor League games. Rodriguez is hopeful Stanton can play in Grapefruit League games the final week of Spring Training. So it may be doubtful the 21-year-old is playing with the big league club before March 26.

* Wes Helms (sore shoulder) is available to be a designated hitter, but he isn’t doing much throwing.

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